JFC1 Round 5 v St Paul’s
After a sobering defeat to St Joseph’s in Round 4, our men’s team got back on track with a 4-14 to 1-3 victory over St Paul’s in our final Junior 1 Football Championship group match at a wind-swept Killucan last Sunday afternoon.
It was our fourth win in five as thoughts now turn to this weekend’s quarter-final against Killucan (time and venue to be confirmed). Despite playing against the strong wind in the opening half, we took a 1-4 to 1-0 lead into the break thanks to points from Nigel Scally (two), Joey O’Neill and Cillian Rochford along with a well-taken goal by Danny Scully.
Jack Molloy added a second goal straight after the restart and Scally tagged on two more points (one free) before Conor Delaney raised our third green flag to make it 3-6 to 1-1 after 39 minutes.
Further points from O’Neill, Molloy (two), Delaney (two-pointer), Darragh Coffey and Padraig Carton (’45) followed before Delaney palmed home his second major. Substitute Dean Fitzgerald completed the scoring on a day when Diarmuid Egan made a solid debut in goals and the long-serving Mel Kiernan returned from a serious hand injury sustained early in the season.
Team: Diarmuid Egan; Martin Ward, Jacob Browne, Arthur O’Rourke; Joey O’Neill, Shaun Pidgeon, Micheál Coffey; Ray Kennedy, Padraig Carton; Danny Scully, Nigel Scally, Cillian Rochford; Jack Molloy, Darragh Coffey, Conor Delaney. Subs used: Dean Fitzgerald, Mel Kiernan, Mark Wrafter, Keith Corcoran and Jack Mullins.
LGFA Junior Championship Round 4 v Shandonagh
Our ladies geared up for the knockout stages of the Junior Championship with a gusty comeback win away to Shandonagh in their final group match last Friday evening.
Trailing by four points with time running out, they finished with a flourish to claim a dramatic 2-14 to 2-13 victory. With three wins from four, they can now look forward to a quarter-final against Moate this weekend (time and venue to be confirmed), with Clann Gaels awaiting the winner in the semi-final.
Team: Kayla McGrath; Aideen Pettit, Fiona Dixon, Orla Brennan; Emma Murphy, Chloe Ruane, Becky Scally; Anna Wrafter, Fiona Claffey; Áine Pettit, Aoibhín Jackson, Aislinn Carey; Ciara Heavin, Susan Kiernan, Laura Murphy. Subs: Olivia Wrafter, Grace Maloney, Ava Rochford, Abbie Coffey, Bláithín Kelly, Aoife Finn, Mary Gardiner, Chloe Gannon, Niamh Durkan and Maria Haritonceva.
The late Padraig Smith
Our club was plunged into mourning with the passing of former player and club member Padraig Smith following an illness on Sunday, August 30 last.
Part of a great Kilbeggan GAA family and the oldest of seven – his brothers Dermot (Dee) and Kevin have been actively involved with the club for many years while his sister Una is also involved – Padraig usually played in the backs and won JFC, JFL and Junior Cup medals in 1992 when Dee was captain. Padraig and Dee were just two years apart in age and inherited their love for Kilbeggan GAA from their late father PJ.
Padraig's other sporting achievements included a minor 'C' championship in 1985, an U21 'B' championship in 1988 and a midlands soccer title with Kilbeggan FC in '89.
Affectionately known as 'Johnny', Padraig also represented us in Scór table quizzes. He was a fountain of knowledge who anyone would love to have on their team. Padraig was a partner in a successful accountancy practice in Tullamore he ran with another great Gael from Clara, Dervill Dolan. He was a gifted, diligent accountant whose many local clients will tell you he was as straight as a dye.
There were no airs or graces about Padraig – he worked quietly for the good of the various community groups he was involved with down through the years.
Above all else, he was a wonderful family man who will be sorely missed by all who knew him. At 59, he was taken way too soon.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Padraig's wife Fiona and daughters Emily, Jane and Rachael, his mother Josie and siblings Dermot, Brenda (Donnelly), Joan (Gavin), Una, Ann and Kevin, his father and mother-in-law Brendan and Carmel Buggy, his brothers-in-law Noel Gavin and Brendan Donnelly, Shane Buggy and Rory Buggy, his sisters-in-law Emma and Narelle, Jules (Dermot’s partner), Aoife Buggy and Ciara Leonard, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
All club activities were suspended for much of last week as a mark of respect, while members and former team-mates of Padraig’s turned out in large numbers to form a guard of honour from his home in Walnut Lane to the nearby St James’ Church before his Funeral Mass last Friday morning.
A man of strong faith and great integrity, and a consummate professional in his work life, may he rest in peace.
Lotto
Last week’s lucky numbers were 1, 3, 18 and 23. There was no jackpot winner; Gary Marshall was the only Match 3 winner.
This week’s jackpot is €1,950. Make sure to buy your tickets online or at Centra, Mee's Costcutter and Whelan’s. Tickets are also on sale outside Centra every Saturday and Sunday. Thank you for your continued support.
